getting ready

Oooh, boy. The Catholic Church has revised Mass texts and we will begin using them the first week of Advent. We musicians are all agog, trying to convince our choirs that this is indeed a very good thing, as well as teach them new Mass parts. The verbiage in the Gloria, the Holy, Holy, Holy, the Memorial Acclamations AND the Lamb of God will all be changed. Along with all of this, we at St. Columba ordered new hymnals, replete with lots of hymns no one knows. There are many that are old favorites of mine. (I learned them, playing for other parishes.) Let's just hope my enthusiasm is contagious and the entire congregation will get on board! The thing is we musicians have it easy. It's the priests who will have to learn a lot more.

This takes me back to the time we went from Latin to the local languages. I remember it, even though I was pretty young when it happened. I remember thinking how wonderful it was to be able to understand what was being said at Mass, yet missing the beauty of Latin. (After all, we had missals in English to follow along when it was in Latin.) I was too young to really grasp the importance of it all.

Change does not come easy to us, does it? I've been feeling it lately. Over the past 9 months, my life completely changed. While I really enjoy what I am doing these days, I still feel discombobulated, as though it's all a dream. I work hard but it doesn't feel like work. I feel energized by each piano lesson I teach. Focusing on music is a great way to make a living! And yet here I am, stewing, wondering if it's going to last. Silly, huh? Nothing lasts forever so why spend time and energy, thinking about it. The thing to do is be present and revel in this very moment.

I resolve to be at peace and to bring joy, peace and love to the person who is before me right now. I won't worry about a year from now or even 10 minutes from now. Love this moment in the Lord. That's the ticket!